Mine on-site solar project due for Q1 commission

A 10.6 MW solar and 6 MW lithium ion battery storage project at the off-grid DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine in Australia is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2016.

The juwi Group has developed the solar hybrid system to fully integrate with the existing 19 MW diesel-fired power station at the mine in Western Australia.

Single axis tracking and the battery system will enable solar to provide the majority of daytime electricity while reducing the mine’s total diesel consumption by over 20%.

Developed on behalf of mine owner Sandfire Resources NL, a mid-tier Australian mining company, the A$40 million project will consist of 34,080 solar PV panels covering a total area of over 20 hectares at a site located immediately adjacent to the DeGrussa underground mine and processing plant.